Buckle



(No Model.)

R. OLIVER.

BUCKLE. No. 358,066. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.-

R LINE/W01? Attorney re mans. Phowuem n hu, wmengm B a 'UNrTED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

REVILO OLIVER, OF OHATSIVORTH, ILLINOIS.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 358,066, dated February22, 1887.

Application filed October 26, 1886. Serial No. 217,247. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REvILo OLIVER, of Chatsworth, in the county ofLivingston and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Buckles; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to an improvement in buckles.

Heretofore in buckles used about a harness the great objection has beenthat the tongue of the buckle has been exposed, and, 1 being uppermost,is liable to catch the horses tail as the latter is switching about andcause great annoyance both to the horse and driver, as it makes theformer restless and hard to manage.

The object of my present invention is to provide a guard for the tongueof the buckle.

A further object is to provide a buckle which will be simple, durable,and can be manufactured at a slight initial cost.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is o 3 showing the buckle inlocked adjustment. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective, showing the bucklein open adjustment.

A is a metallic frame, preferably rectangular in shape and cast in onepiece, the sides a a being provided with downwardly-extending lugs orflanges Z), carrying a cross bar or piece, 0, integral therewith, orhaving near their lower ends perforations a adapted to receive across-piece, c, which latter limits the downward movement of the tongueand forms an abutment on which the free end of the tongue rests when theparts are in closed adjustment.

The tongue 0 and the guard D are cut from a single blank, or otherwiseformed integral, and then bent at their juncture around the end a of theframe, which latter is rounded for the purpose of forminga socket,

a view of my device in longitudinal section,

b whereby the tongue and guard are pivotally secured to the frame, thusallowing of free swinging movement. The tongue 0 is also bent to allowof the free passage of a strap between it and the guard D. The-guard Dis rectangular in shape, and is pivotally secured to the end a of theframe, and is adapted to loosely fit the spaeewithiu the four sides ofthe frame and shield the tongue, and is prevented from falling below theupper surface of the frame by the tongue coming in contact with thecross-bar c.

.--When it is desired to buckle the strap, the guard and tongue areswung or turned up out of the frame, and the strap is slipped from thepintle end of the frame over the cross-piece b, and thence out under theopposite end of the frame. The plate and tongue are then lowered untilthe latter bears on the strap. The strap is then adjusted, and when theproper hole is reached the tongue engages it, and the strap being pulledbackwardly the bent free end of the tongue enters the hole, and theoperation is complete.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form andarrangement of the several parts described. For instance, aloose-fitting sleeve might be applied to the cross-bar to permit of thefreer passage of the strap over it, and other slight changes be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I donot wish to limit myself strictly to the exact construction herein setforth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes as fallwiflrin the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters- Patent, is

1. In a buckle, the combination, with a frame, of a tongue looselymounted on said 0 frame and a guard located above and secured to thetongue and adapted to fit within and approximately fill the spacebetween the end and side bars of the frame, substantially as set forth.9 5

2. In a buckle, the combination, with a frame, of a tongue and guardformed integral and secured to said frame in swinging adjustment and across-bar secured to the frame In testimony whereof I havesigned thisspecibelow the tongue and forming a stop or bearfication in the presenceof two subscribing ing for the tongue, substantially as set forth.witnesses.

3. The combination, with a rectangular REVILO OLIVER. 5 frame, of atongue and tongue-guard made in Witnesses:

a single piece and journaled to one end of the A. NV. STEERs,

rectangular frame, substantially as set forth. 1 H. 0. LIST.

